Stories of the great conflict from the time Lincoln became president and the southern states seceded, through the battles of Bull Run, Shiloh, Antietam, Vicksburg, Gettysburg, Chickamauga, until the close of the war. Includes poems, songs, and illustrations commemorating the events. Ages 8-12

197 pages

$9.95

THE FIRST BLOODSHED

[21] Do you remember what happened in the Revolution on
one 19th of April?

And now we have another 19th of April to learn about—19th
of April, 1861.

In answer to Lincoln's call for seventy-five thousand men,
many a small company from the different States had been
got together, and were training for service. One of these
companies, the "Sixth Massachusetts Regiment," reached
Baltimore, on its way to Washington, on this morning of the
19th of April, 1861. When the cars which brought them
reached the city, it was met by a crowd of angry people
armed with sticks, and clubs, and guns—a blacker, angrier
mob was never seen.

These cars were drawn through the city from one depot
to another, the soldiers inside. The mob followed, throwing
stones and brick-bats into the windows from every side.

At last, unable to endure it any longer, the officer, ordered
the soldiers to form into ranks, and march in a solid column to the depot.

On they marched, the brick-bats and balls whizzing about
their ears. Just as they reached the depot, the command
was given, "Fire!"

Then the troops turned their guns into the crowd; and
many a man fell before the fire of these soldiers whom they
[22] had attacked. For a moment there was a lull! The mob
itself stood still before its awful work! But only for a
moment; then with yells of rage and threats of revenge,
they fell upon the troops, surrounded the cars, filling the air
with howls and curses. Amid this terrible scene the cars
rolled out of the depot. Three of the soldiers had been
killed, and there were eighteen wounded.

PASSING THROUGH BALTIMORE

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